Sermons
October 15th, 2023 by Pastor Solley101523AM Naaman Was a Great Man
Sub. Naaman
Theme: Healing of Naaman
Text: 2 Kings 5:1-14
“Naaman Was a Great Man” 2 Kings 5:1-14
Introduction
The title of the message this morning is given to us in the first verse of our text for today. – 2 Kings 5:1 – But we will see that not only was Naaman a great man, Naaman had a greater problem. In looking at Naaman this morning we are going to see yet another illustration of the gospel message. There has never been a more urgent need than the one Naaman had and never a more urgent time for the gospel to be heard than in our present day. We are see the very days that the Bible speaks about as being the last days played out before our eyes and there is a great need for the gospel message to be heard.
I. The time frame in which the miracle we will look at this morning is important: After the death of Solomon the nation of Israel was split into two separate kingdoms by political strife. The northern kingdom was known as Israel, the southern kingdom as Judah. In the northern kingdom there were no good kings and that part of the original nation moved quickly and far away from the Lord. Because of that God was using other nations to chasten and judge Israel for sin.
A. Syria was one of the nations God was using to judge the northern kingdom: There were many military invasions of the land of Israel by the Syrian army, some more successful than others.
1. Naaman was a commanding general in the Syrian army: 2 Kings 5:1 Most likely he was the top military commander.
2. Naaman led several invasions of the land: 2 Kings 5:2
B. During those invasions when they were successful prisoners or captives were taken: 2 Kings 5:2 It was common practice in that day to take captive certain ones and make them slaves. Nehemiah is an example of this practice as well as Daniel.
1. In our text a little maid is taken captive and made a slave: 2 Kings 5:2 She was taken from home and family, her home may have been destroyed, her family may or may not have been killed. That she is identified as little refers to her age. She is a young girl.
2. But she lands in a good situation: 2 Kings 5:2 We will see that she was treated well in her new surroundings.
3. That is the setting for the miracle that will take place here:
II. We are going to look this morning at this miracle and how it gives us a picture of the gospel message: 2 Kings 5:1-14
PROP: This is yet another illustration of the everlasting gospel. TS. Perhaps it is an illustration that will speak to someone today.
Body
I. Naaman was a great man with a greater problem: 2 Kings 5:1 As with all great men or women past, present, or future, there is always a flaw, always a problem because no one is perfect. Naaman was a great man with a greater problem.
A. Note the greatness of Naaman: 2 Kings 5:1 To be as great as Naaman was would be good for any of us today.
1. Naaman was successful: 2 Kings 5:1 He was the top general in the Syrian army. He had risen to the top of his profession.
2. Naaman was great with his master: 2 Kings 5:1 He had the complete trust of the king.
3. Naaman was a man of honor: 2 Kings 5:1 The meaning is that there were no flaws in his character.
4. Naaman was a man of valor: 2 Kings 5:1 It speaks of his bravery and courage. Naaman did not order troops into battle, Naaman led troops into battle and was on the front lines with them.
5. Naaman was kind and tenderhearted as well: 2 Kings 5:2-3 We know that because this little maid cared about him.
a. Naaman was responsible for invading Israel, destroying cities and homes, killing many in battle.
b. Naaman was responsible for her benign taken away from home and family.
c. How would you feel about Naaman? But this little maid cares about Naaman. – 2 Kings 5:3
d. Naaman must have been kind and tenderhearted.
6. Nothing negative said about Naaman, no flaw in his character: Jesus mentions Naaman in Luke chapter four.
7. We should all want to be like Naaman: Naaman was a great man.
B. But Naaman had a greater problem: 2 Kings 5:1 There was a death sentence passed upon Naaman, Naaman was a leper. Leprosy was and is an infectious disease that attacks the skin, eyes, nose, and peripheral nerves causing nerve damage. Leprosy is an age old disease for which there was no cure and it did eventually bring an agonizing death. Leprosy is still a problem in over 120 countries that have no medications to treat it. Leprosy could be fast or slow moving and did not leave those who contracted it much hope. Leprosy was the cancer of that day. The only thing to do with a leper was isolate him or her. Naaman contracted leprosy most likely while on the battlefield and now Naaman had a death sentence passed upon him. Naaman was a great man with a greater problem.
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II. All of us have something in common with Naaman this morning: Probably none of us are as great as Naaman was, I know I am not, but we all have something in common with Naaman, I know I do. We all live under a death sentence. None of us have Leprosy but we all live under a death sentence. We have the same problem as Naaman had, one day we will die.
A. Leprosy is the Bible is often used as a type or illustration of sin: Sin like Leprosy kills. The wages of sin is death and that death is passed upon all because all have been born into sin. One day each one of us will prove that we have the same problem Naaman had, a death sentence passed upon us for the wages of sin is death.
1. Sin can kill slowly: Taking years and years to claim a life, but sin kills. The wages of sin is death.
2. Sin may kill quickly: Striking while one is young, but sin kills. The wages of sin is death.
3. One way or another sin kills, we are born with a death sentence hanging over us: Rom 5:12 And sin is the reason it is appointed unto man once to die.
a. That appointment, the one we have with death, was not made until sin entered into this world.
b. It is an appointment we all have for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
B. Just as Naaman could do nothing about the problem of Leprosy he had we can do nothing about our sin problem: What if we obtained the same level of greatness that Naaman achieved? Would that take care of the sin problem?
1. What if we were successful in what we chose to do? We would still be a sinner short of the glory of God.
2. What of we were considered to be great? We would still be a sinner short of the glory of God.
3. What if we were known as a person of honor? We would still be a sinner short of the glory of God.
4. What if we were known for our valor? We would still be a sinner short of the glory of God.
5. What if we were kind and tenderhearted? We would still be a sinner short of the glory of God.
6. What if nothing negative could be said about us? We would still be a sinner short of the glory of God.
C. All of us have something in common with Naaman: His problem was Leprosy, our problem is sin and our problem is greater than that of Naaman. Leprosy would take his physical life, sin is keeping many from spiritual life. To die with the sin problem brings an eternity in hell. I would say our problem is greater than the problem Naaman had.
III. God sent a little maid to Naaman with a great message: 2 Kings 5:2-6 It was no accident that this young Hebrew girl ended up in the house of Naaman. God speaks to all souls and then for the souls that search for Him God makes Himself known. This little maid had the message that Naaman needed to hear.
A. Get Naaman to the man of God: 2 Kings 5:3 Get Naaman to the Lord. The prophet was the voice of God, was God’s instrument in that day to speak to and deal with man. I am not sure how old this little girl was.
1. But she was old enough to know about Elisha: She knew about the Jordan river parting for Elisha. She knew of the she bears tearing to pieces the men who mocked the prophet. She knew of bitter waters made sweet. She knew of the increase of the widow’s oil. This little girl knew about the man of God.
2. Get Naaman to the man of God because he is one standing for God in this world: She knew what Naaman needed.
B. Last week it was a lad with five loaves and two fishes, today it is a little maid with a message: Not sure how old she was but she was willing to be used of the Lord. Get Naaman to the man of God.
1. One is never too young to be used of the Lord: Isa 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
2. We need young people who are willing to be used of the Lord, willing to speak up for the Lord, willing to be active for the Lord: One is never too young to be used of the Lord, to give themselves in service to the Lord.
C. In fact she knew more than the leaders of Israel: 2 Kings 5:6-7 The king of Israel was to be more than a political leader, more than a military leader, he was to be a spiritual leader as well. Not much of a spiritual leader was this king. The northern kingdom had no good kings and this man is no exception. But he does have a lesson for us today.
1. No political leader of our day is going to give us the answers we need: The only one who can fix America’s problems in Jesus.
2. No church can take care of the sin problem: Only Jesus Christ can fix the sin problem we are born with.
3. This little Hebrew maid knew more than the leaders of Israel: Let no man despise thy youth fits her as it did Timothy.
D. God sent a little maid to Naaman with a great message: God can use you as well.
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IV. Elisha hears of the problem that Naaman had and Elisha has the answer: 2 Kings 5:8-14 There was no healing power, no cleansing power in the Jordan river. Most times of the year and in most places the Jordan is nothing to look at. – 2 Kings 5:12 – So why the Jordan river?
A. The healing power, the cleansing power was going to be found in obeying God: Elisha is the voice of God, the hand of God in the world at that time. A prophet of God was the representative of God. Elisha was the voice of God.
1. Were Naaman to obey the prophet would be no less than Naaman obeying God: Wash and be clean. – 2 Kings 5:10
2. All Naaman had to do was obey a simple and easy to understand command: Wash and be clean. – 2 Kings 5:10
B. Notice the reaction of Naaman: 2 Kings 5:11-12 Naaman reacts in the same way many people react to the gospel message today.
1. Naaman stood at the door of the prophets house if you would full of his greatness: 2 Kings 5:1 But his greatness was not going to take away the Leprosy that was going to kill him.
2. Naaman stood at the door of the prophets house willing to buy his cure: 2 Kings 5:5 But all the money in the world was not going to take away the Leprosy that was going to kill him.
3. Naaman stood at the door of the prophets house highly recommended: 2 Kings 5:5 But that recommendation was not going to take away the Leprosy that was going to kill him.
4. Naaman was more willing to hold onto the Leprosy than obey God: 2 Kings 5:11-12
5. Naaman was not willing to listen to the voice of God:
C. Are you willing to listen to the voice of God this morning? This pastor is not the voice of God this morning, but this KJB is. If he brings you the Bible then he brings you the very voice of God.
1. This is God Speaking to you: John 3:7 Are you willing to listen to God?
2. This is God speaking to you: John 14:6 Are you willing to listen to God?
3. This is God speaking to you: 1 John 5:11-12 Are you willing to listen to God?
4. This is God speaking to you: 2 Cor 6:2 Are you willing to listen to God?
5. This is God speaking to you: Eph 2:8-9 Are you willing to listen to God?
D. Or are you like Naaman and would rather walk away angry at what God says to do?
E. Elisha hears of the problem that Naaman had and Elisha has the answer:
V. Finally some get through to Naaman and the problem is taken away, Naaman is cleansed: 2 Kings 5:13-14 I wonder about those men. I know they were his servants but I wonder about them. Did they hear from that little maid about the God of Israel some time before? Had they head of the prophet? I wonder about those men.
A. God used them to get once again the attention of Naaman: 2 Kings 5:13 Think about this for just a moment. Naaman was a great man but God had to get his attention.
1. Naaman contracted Leprosy: God getting his attention.
2. Naaman heard the message of the little maid: God getting his attention.
3. Naaman went to Israel, to the king: God getting his attention.
4. Naaman hears from the man of God: God getting his attention.
5. And Naaman still would have walked away in his Leprosy:
B. Finally some get the attention of Naaman and he is cleaned, made clean: 2 Kings 5:13-14
1. Praise God for those who finally got through to Naaman: For those unnamed servants.
2. Now Naaman knows there is a God in Israel: 2 Kings 5:15 The death sentence of Leprosy was gone and Naaman had a new life.
C. What does that tell me? Never give up.
1. Never give up on people:
2. Never give up on God:
C. Finally some get through to Naaman and the problem is taken away, Naaman is cleansed:
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Conclusion
Looking at the miracle recorded in 2 Kings 5 what can we say this morning?
I. Naaman was a great man with a greater problem: 2 Kings 5:1 As with all great men or women past, present, or future, there is always a flaw, always a problem because no one is perfect. Naaman was a great man with a greater problem.
II. All of us have something in common with Naaman this morning: Probable none of us are as great as Naaman was, I know I am not, but we all have something common with Naaman, I know I do. We all live under a death sentence. None of us have Leprosy but we all live under a death sentence. We have the same problem as Naaman had, one day we will die.
III. God sent a little maid to Naaman with a great message: 2 Kings 5:2-6 It was no accident that this young Hebrew girl ended up in the house of Naaman. God speaks to all souls and then for the souls that search for Him God makes Himself known. This little maid had the message that Naaman needed to hear.
IV. Elisha hears of the problem that Naaman had and Elisha has the answer: 2 Kings 5:8-14 There was no healing power, no cleansing power in the Jordan river. Most times of the year and in most places the Jordan is nothing to look at. – 2 Kings 5:12 – So why the Jordan river?
V. Finally some get through to Naaman and the problem is taken away, Naaman is cleansed: 2 Kings 5:13-14 I wonder about those men. I know they were his servants but I wonder about them. Did they hear from that little maid about the God of Israel some time before? Had they head of the prophet? I wonder about those men.